Day 6

Nestad drifted in and out of sleep all night, troubled by the pain from his wounds, but comforted by Aewen's presence when he was awake enough to feel her hand in his. At last, morning came and he opened his eyes all the way. He could have used a lot more sleep, but right now, this was enough. Aewen was still asleep, and in his brighter light, Nestad could see tear-trails on her face. "Oh my poor melethril," he murmured. "I'm sorry you have to see all of this."

At the soft sound of his voice, Aewen's brows furrowed slightly and she stirred but didn't wake up. "No…it isn't…possible…" she murmured faintly. And then she drifted back into a deeper sleep.

The healer smiled fondly at the sleeping woman even as he wondered what wasn't possible. He shifted a bit and took stock of his body. Everything was stiff on top of being badly cut; he could only be thankful that Aewen wasn't a healer. At least she wasn't experiencing his physical pain. But the night's sleep had done wonders for his power; it was back, not as strong, but tangible when he rubbed his fingertips together.

It was nearly twenty minutes more before Aewen stirred again. She groaned softly, the first thing she was aware of being the hard, cold floor. All her muscles ached deep down. She groaned again as she rolled over on her back.

Nestad rolled onto his stomach and carefully pushed himself up into a back arch with his hands. His arms shook as pain zinged through him, but he persisted, knowing that was the only way he was going to keep any mobility in his back during this time. His dark hair fell around his face, hiding a grimace of pain as he held the stretch.

Aewen slept on for a moment longer. She had been so exhausted from the day before, and in her sleep she did not remember events. And so the fact that Nestad was there, in pain and wounded, escaped her for the time being.

That was fine with the elf. He was naturally proud, and showing a great deal of pain before someone else was difficult for him. He liked working through stretches while she was asleep. Slowly, he arched his back up, kneeling and bracing himself with his hands.

A few minutes later there was the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs, and men's voices.

Automatic reaction tried to pull Nestad to his feet, but he couldn't get any higher than his knees without nearly screaming in pain. Clumsily, he shifted himself forward until he blocked Aewen from easy sight.

The door opened and some guards came in. The foremost guard sniffed when he saw the elf sitting there looking at them. "Darn…he's still alive," he said. "Oh well…" They tossed a dirty bag at the elf's feet. "Food, water, rags," he said. "Do whatever you want with them. And tell that wench of yours that she's in trouble for giving us the slip last night." And with that he left, locking the door behind him.

"Gracious as ever," Nestad remarked in his language, picking up the bag and poking through the contents absently. How'd Aewen given them the slip? Unless they meant her hiding. 'Wonderful. In trouble because of my order,' he thought wearily, settling himself on his stomach.

Aewen stirred and blinked her eyes open, disturbed by the sounds. She raised her head slightly and looked around. "Nestad?" she asked.

"Morning, Aewen," Nestad replied, glancing at her with a small smile. "Breakfast, such as it is, just arrived." He held up the bag in one hand as he supported himself with the other arm.

Aewen got up and knelt beside him. "How are you feeling?" she asked, pressing her palm to his brow, out of habit really.

Nestad chuckled. "I don't have a fever, if that's what you're checking for," he teased gently. "I'm sore and hurting, but stronger than last night."

Aewen took her hand away and breathed in slight relief. "I'm so glad to hear that," she said softly. "Are you hungry? You should eat to keep up your strength." she dug into the bag. "There's rags in here," she said. "You could wash some of your worst lashes."

Nestad took some of the bread and set it to one side. "I should wash first," he decided. "Having food in me while that happens…" he shook his head. "Probably not a good idea."

Aewen nodded and took the water bottle out, along with a rag. She looked at him. "Shall I wet the rag for you?"

The healer wished he didn't have to say yes, but even the idea of washing the wounds, crusted with blood new and old, sapped some of his strength. "Please," he said quietly.

Aewen poured water all over the rag, soaking it nicely, and she didn't wring it out at all. Then she hesitated. "Will you do this on your own?" she asked, not seeing how he could reach his own back very well. "I'll help you if you want me to…"

That provided a conundrum for the elf. On one hand, he liked Aewen's touch and knew it would do wonders for him, giving strength where he didn't have it. On the other, that could be seen as weakness… His healer's mind rolled its eyes and took over: "If you don't mind."

Aewen smiled shyly and moved closer. Then she gently began to dab at the wounds, touching them only enough to get them wet, slowly softening the dried blood and rinsing it away. "Does it hurt badly?" she asked.

Nestad closed his eyes and rested his forehead against his arm, pressing against a cut there deliberately to make himself think of some other pain besides that searing through his back. "It's fine," he managed, his voice tight.

Aewen didn't believe him, but she didn't press. "I hope that young man you saved last night is doing well," she said as she worked. "I was so afraid we were going to lose him."

"So was I," Nestad confessed, his voice shaking. "He was fortunate that none of those splinters penetrated any vital organs; I would not have been able to do much except help him die in peace."

Aewen sighed and shook her head in amazement. "And I was so grateful to Kali. She showed up just at the right time. She just took over the situation and seemed to know more what she was doing. More than I did anyway."

"Didn't she tell you she was a midwife in her village? She was the closest thing these people had for a healer before I was captured." Nestad inhaled raggedly and forced his body to relax as Aewen continued her gentle work.

"Really?" Aewen said. She shook her head. "No, she didn't tell me. We didn't really have much time to talk. But…even so, I feel like I've made a friend in her."

"She's a sweet woman and easy to befriend," the elf replied. "I met her right after I arrived here, and we've worked together on occasion."

"I met her at lunch," Aewen said. "She came to ask me about Bella. And I invited her to come visit her daughter."

Nestad smiled despite himself. "Yes, little Bella is the easiest key to her mama's heart."

"Nestad…" Aewen said. "Don't believe anything you heard from that monster of a commander, all right? He was lying through his teeth about everything he said regarding me."

"I know, melethril," Nestad replied, turning his head so he could see her. "He was just trying to find my weaknesses and use them against me." He smiled slightly. "He went too far into unbelievable territory, so I knew."

"I did encounter him again yesterday," she admitted. "That was the only part of his story that was true."

"Good lies usually do have some aspect of truth to them," the elf remarked, wincing as she touched a particularly deep wound. That one had been bone deep the night before; to his relief, it wasn't now. "And I'll wager he tried to drag you off? How'd you keep him off you?"

Aewen smiled, and then giggled softly. "I pulled back the whole way," she said. "And I exasperated him with words, never letting him get his two cents in. And so he finally just let go of me and told me to go to the healing tent. He was quite put off."

"Well done!" Nestad chuckled. "Though that might…" he stopped, shaking his head firmly. No, she didn't need to hear that at the moment. She needed to focus.

"Might what?" Aewen pressed, pausing in her work to look at his face.

"…explain what the guards said when they brought in that bag." He angled his thumb at the bag still holding some food. "Something about you being in trouble for evading them."

"Oh…" she shook her head. "No, that was last night after they took you. I slipped out the back door of the tent and came here on my own. I was crying and didn't feel strong enough to fend them off this time."

"I'm glad you did manage to evade them," Nestad said, shifting to stretch his back a bit and wincing.

"How are you feeling now?" Aewen asked. "I've cleaned all the ones on your back. They look much better. But there is still your sides and legs…"

"I can manage with those, I think," Nestad replied, sitting up carefully and easing himself into a back bend, keeping his face completely devoid of the pain zinging through his body. Once he was settled in the stretch, he added, "Thank you so much for your help. This would have been really hard otherwise."

"You're welcome," Aewen said softly. She sat back a bit and watched him, feeling his pain, even though he didn't show it. She knew it hurt. How could it not? "Nestad…I had an idea about the escape," she said hesitantly after a few minutes.

The elf pulled out of the stretch and braced himself with his hands on his knees. "Really?" he asked. "What's that?"

"Well…I had to bury two more slaves today," she said softly. And each time I was in that huge pit, I thought…it would be a perfect place to hide people…"

Nestad nodded encouragingly. "It would be," he admitted, "especially if they're good actors. Go on."

She smiled when he started picking up on her idea. "The patients who are not too badly sick or wounded. Or ones who have been healed from terrible sickness…we could say they have died, and take them to the pit. Only they won't have died. You could say that it is a sickness that is beyond your skill to heal or something like that." She sighed. "The only problem is…I don't know what to do with them once they're in the pit…I haven't worked it out that far…"

"The pit's never guarded," Nestad said. "I made sure of that; there was too much risk of the guards catching whatever the dead bodies had. And it's on the outskirts of the camp. After nightfall, they could make for the woods and try for an escape. There'd still be risk: the desert is not forgiving. But surely it'd be worth it to them?"

"I think they would rather brave the desert than stay here," Aewen said. "But if they made it to the sea, and then followed its shores north, they would eventually come to the River Carnen. They could follow it north until they reach the joining of the Celduin. The Celduin flows down out of Rhovánian on the North Western boarders of Mirkwood. If they took this course, they could avoid the desert and still make it back to friendly lands."

Nestad studied his mental map silently for a moment before nodding. "I can send the first ones with a message to the border guards. I imagine they'd be surprised to know their old healer is still kicking. But the King would be willing to help if the request comes from another elf. If not, Esgaroth is a good stopping point." He let out a breath. "Supplies would be easy to come by too," he added. "We could leave them packets of food and water in the woods beyond the pit. That'd get them started, anyway."

Aewen couldn't help but grin. "So…you like my idea then? You think it might work?"

"I think it's a wonderful idea," Nestad replied, beginning to work on his side cuts with a fresh cloth. "It's the only one I've heard that would get the most slaves out as possible and keep them alive. Any thought on how we would then get out?"

Aewen shook her head. "No, I haven't thought that far in advance. But I guess it would be easier for just the two of us to sneak out on our own."

Nestad nodded. "Especially with your practice in wood-craft," he added with a small smile, remembering the wood-child she had been over five years ago.

Aewen smiled and glanced down. "It's been a couple years since I went running through the trees," she admitted. "My father never wanted me to do it when I was younger. But now that I am a woman, he forbids it outright."

"Really? That's a shame. How do you manage to watch birds without 'running through the trees'?"

"There are birds in Minas Anor," Aewen said. "In the gardens on the sixth level. Have you seen them? I guess you must have if you came there to study healing. Our Healing Houses are next to the gardens."

Nestad half-closed his eyes as his hand continued its cleaning motion. "Yes, I do remember," he said, seeing the Houses on the backs of his eyelids and working out from there. "There's gardens all over the city, but the sixth level ones are the biggest and brightest. I spent a good deal of time in the trees there on my off-days."

Aewen smiled and looked down. "Watching me?" she asked. "I was always there. As often as I could find the time."

The elf bent a bit. "Does the idea of me watching you there make you uncomfortable?" he queried. "I did see you there, and often, but at that time, you were just one of the children running around. At first, anyway."

"It doesn't make me uncomfortable," Aewen said. "At least…not then when I was in the city. But…when I was in the forest by myself, I thought I was alone. And…" She blushed.

"And I destroyed that illusion by telling you that someone else was there, even if only to protect you," Nestad finished, nodding. "I am sorry for that."

"It's all right," she said. "It's just…It was my own private time, you know? You must have thought me silly, listening to me talk to myself aloud. But…I didn't know anyone was watching. Now I'm sure you know everything about me."

"Not everything," Nestad said. "Almost. But not quite all." He was quiet for a moment. "I don't know if you've ever loved," he added, hissing through his teeth as he scraped the underside of a rib painfully.

Aewen looked down at her hands. She shook her head slightly. "No…" she said. "Not really. I fancied someone once. But he never knew…"

Nestad smiled warmly. "That is nearly my story," he said quietly. He sighed and set the cloth aside. "Aewen, I think we need to talk about the oliphaunt in the room. We both know it's there and we're both dodging it."

"What do you mean?" Aewen asked, avoiding his gaze.

"I think you know," Nestad murmured, watching the young woman. "Before I was taken from the healing tent yesterday, I said some things in my native tongue. Did you understand me?"

Aewen focused her gaze on the floor. It was a moment before she responded, and then only with a slight nod.

"I wondered if you did. I'm a bit impended, not knowing how well you speak my language." Nestad watched the top of her dark head. "I'm sure you must be thinking something."

"My father always said that phrase to me," Aewen said softly. "That is how I know it. Why you would speak it to me, I don't know."

Nestad studied his hands a moment. "I have admired you since I first noticed you chasing after a flying bird," he said quietly. "Now…" he took a breath. "Now the natural protectiveness I feel for a woman has…changed, I suppose." He shrugged. "You can do what you like with it," he said. "But I like you, possibly even love you."

"But…how?" Aewen asked, glancing up at him briefly. "How could you love me?"

"How could I not love you?" Nestad returned. "You're beautiful, and stubborn, and eager to learn…"

"But I'm a mortal," Aewen said softly. "You are an elf…"

"A bird can learn to swim, and a fish can learn to fly," the healer said. "Elves and humans have loved before. It's famous in legend."

"But…I will fade…and you will not. Soon I will be just a memory in your heart. And I don't want to be a thousand-year-old memory."

"I can choose," Nestad replied. "I can choose to become mortal and fade with you."

Tears welled in Aewen eyes and one trailed down her cheek. "But I don't want you do that for me," she said. "It's not right that an elf must give up his life…it is such a gift…"

"It can be," Nestad admitted. "But can you fault one who is in love for wanting to give a precious gift?" He gently wiped her tear away with his thumb.

Aewen sobbed once. She didn't know what to say or even what to think. Just the idea that this elf could love her, even enough to give up his own immortality…it was beyond her grasp at the moment.

"You don't have to make any decisions right now," Nestad said quietly. "It's a bit of a shock; I can understand. Just…think about it. I'm patient." He smiled sadly. "A skill quickly acquired after centuries of life."

Aewen didn't answer. She wiped her tears away, still not able to meet his gaze. "I am just an infant to you…aren't I?" she realized.

"When you've seen as much as I have, everyone's an infant." He paused. "But that's not a fair answer to you," he realized. "In years, yes, you are as an infant. In heartache, experience and general stubbornness…I don't know just how far behind me you are."

She couldn't help but laugh lightly at that comment. "You may be right on that account, elf," she said softly.

Nestad smiled; glad to see her find humor in this. "I'm fair sure I am." He looked at the door as footsteps rang on the steps. "Morgoth take it," he muttered. "That's probably the guards taking you to work."

Aewen wiped her tears away quickly. She didn't want to go, not now. She was still too troubled in her heart. But what else could she do?

The healer cupped her face in one hand. "Be careful," he murmured. "Try to restrain your tongue." He smiled. "I'd hate to see you hurt because you're too stubborn for your own good." His tone was fond and his words were not aimed to offend.

She nodded. "You will be all right?" she asked softly, clear worry showing in her eyes.

"If they can leave me alone for the day, I'll be fine. I can take the time to heal," the elf reassured her. "I'll be much more together when you return tonight." His thumb stroked her cheek gently before his hand pulled away from her cheek. The keys sounded in the door, drawing an incredibly weary sigh from the healer.

"I'll be thinking about you all day," Aewen whispered.

Nestad's hand found hers and squeezed gently. "You haven't left my thoughts since you were thrown into my cell," he whispered back as the door banged open.

Aewen turned to look at the guards, and then stood up to face them. "What do you want?" she demanded.

Nestad's lips pursed in a silent whistle as the guards looked at each other. They were used to the elf facing them down in the morning; having this young woman take that place was as unnerving as facing down a furious hen. "It's time for your work, wench," one of them finally said, his voice a nearly convincing growl.

"Fine!" Aewen spat. "And you just be civil, or the lot of you will be the first patients I work on this morning."

Nestad's mouth twitched as he watched the expressions of puzzlement and, yes, a trace of fear, cross the guards' faces. "Don't think to threaten us, wench," the second of the pair snarled. But the trace of fear in his eyes showed that, yes, he was threatened and even afraid of this woman, who stood easily three hand's lengths shorter than him.

"Then don't give me a reason to!" Aewen said. "Now, let's get going." She turned and gave a last look in Nestad's direction, her angry expression softening for a moment. And then she went with the guards.

Once the healer was sure they were out of earshot, he burst into peals of laughter, the gleeful sound so out of place in the cold dungeon. He groaned as he pressed a hand to his slashed sides, but he couldn't stop laughing. "That's my brave, stubborn lass," he managed.

Aewen walked deliberately in front of the guards all the way to the healing tent, not giving them pause to speak with her. How was she to go on all day while Nestad was lying in agony in the cell? She entered the tent, hoping that today wouldn't be so busy as the day before.

Bella bounced on her bed. "Morning, Aewen!" she chirped. "Lookit." With that order, she grabbed a small set of crutches and pulled herself out of bed, leaning on the wooden supports. She was a bit wobbly, but she made it down the line of beds and back, to light applause from the patients who were awake.

"Oh, Bella, that's wonderful!" Aewen said, clapping her hands. "You're doing such a good job too."

The little girl beamed as she leaned on her crutches in front of Aewen. "T'ank you," she said, making her way back to her bed.

Aewen followed her and helped the little girl climb back into the bed. "You're just about ready to go back to your mama," she said.

"I'll miss you," Bella said as she sat carefully, her leg extended in front of her.

"And I'll miss you, little lady," Aewen said with a smile. "Say, would you like to help me today, hm?"

Bella brightened. "Can I?" she asked. "I can do anything you want me to. I'm a good student."

"I'm sure you are," Aewen said. "Right now all the patients need water, and I think you can bring it to them." She got up and went to the back of the tent, returning a moment later with a water flask with a strap. She put it around the little girl's neck. "There, that way you can still use your crutches without any trouble."

Bella nodded happily and got up again. She wobbled her way to the closest bed and leaned against her good leg while offering the patient the water flask. He accepted it with a fond smile and drank deeply before wiping his mouth and the lip and returning it to the little girl. "Thank you, little Bella," he said.

Aewen smiled as she watched the little girl for a moment. But then she got up to check on the other patients. She went first to the man that Nestad had saved the night before. She hoped he was doing better.

He was asleep, but stirred as she put a hand on his brow. His eyes flickered open and he looked around. "Morning," he rasped.

Aewen smiled down at him. "Hello there," she said softly. "How do you feel?"

"Didya…see where that herd…of oliphaunts went?" he asked, trying a small answering smile.

Aewen laughed lightly. "It sounds like you're feeling better," she said.

"A little," he admitted. "I understand…I owe you my life. Thank you."

Aewen shook her head. "No, not me," she said. "It was the elf who saved you. Without him, you surely would have died, for you were beyond my humble skill."

"I've seen him…around." The man inhaled and winced a bit. "I'll have…to remember to…thank him when…I see him."

Aewen nodded and rested her hand on the man's forehead again. "Now rest," she said. "Don't talk. You'll be better soon."

The man nodded and closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep. In the background, Bella moved from bed to bed, giving water to everyone who was awake. Occasionally, she had to stand on the toes of her good foot to reach the person's mouth when they couldn't hold the flask themselves, but on the whole it was going well.

Aewen also moved from bed to bed, checking on each patient and making notes in her head about each one. There were no new patients in yet, and she was very glad of that. There were only a few more beds empty, and she wondered where they would put them all. Without Nestad there all the beds were filling up but not coming empty again fast enough.

Around midmorning, a young woman slave stopped by the healing tent with some supplies that had been ordered the last time. "'Morning," she greeted Aewen as she carried the supplies to the back room.

Aewen looked up from her work and smiled slightly. "Good morning," she said. "Oh, thank you, we've been needing those."

"Yeah, that's what the supply master said," replied the young slave as she set the supplies down in the room and came out, dusting her hands off. She paused and looked at Aewen. "Say, you hang about with that elf, don't you?" she asked, her eyes curious.

"Yes," Aewen said. "I am his assistant."

"I saw what happened yesterday." The young slave had shoulder-long black hair that she shook back behind her shoulder now. "Is he okay?"

"You…you saw what happened?" Aewen asked. The arrest, or the actual beating? Did she even want to know?

"Yeah, we were all pretty amazed that he didn't die on the spot. But they say the elves are hardy folk."

"Well…he's doing fine," Aewen said, not appreciating the matter-of-fact way the girl was speaking. "He's resting now. He'll be much better by this evening."

"Glad to hear it," was the response. She turned her head a bit and indicated a scar on her neck. "I'd've died a couple years back if he wasn't around." The young woman met Aewen's eyes. Though she was younger than the Gondorian woman, her eyes were old and tired, showing a lifetime of hardship. She had learned to take things matter-of-factly; she wouldn't have lived very long otherwise.

Aewen smiled slightly. "He's helped a lot of people," she said. "We're all very fortunate to have him here."

"Yeah, I guess so." The woman shrugged. "Anyway, I have to go run a few more errands. Tell him hi for me."

"I will," Aewen said. She moved her dirty hair from her face, tucking it behind an ear before returning to her work. This was going by very slowly. And she couldn't stop thinking about Nestad.

The day dragged by, punctuated at times by new patients and people bringing supplies in. At last, the sun was setting. Bella stopped by Aewen, looking up at the older woman's face. "Are you goin' back to Ne'tad?" she asked, poking Aewen's foot with the tip of one crutch.

Aewen looked up from what she was doing, and for a moment she didn't seem to see the little girl. "Oh…yes, Bella, I am," she finally said. "You did very good today. You were a big help to me, thank you very much."

Bella beamed at the praise. "Mama's coming to get me when the moon rises," she informed Aewen. "I guess I won't see you tomorrow, 'less they let me come back and help you."

"Oh, then I shall surely miss having you here," Aewen said, and gave the little girl a hug. "Say hello to your mama for me, all right? And tell her for me that I'm all right. Can you do that?"

Bella returned the hug awkwardly and nodded. "I'll tell her," she promised. "You'd best hurry before the guards come back," she added, remembering that the guards had left to confer with the commander and were due back any moment.

"You're right," Aewen said. "Good bye, Bella." She hugged the little girl one more time, and then grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders. She left the tent quickly, heading for her cell. She hoped she would be able to get in once she got there.

Amazingly enough, she made it down to the cell with no chance encounters with anyone unpleasant. The guard on duty gave her a friendly nod and opened the door for her. "He's been quiet all day," he remarked.

The light from the torches around the door sent a shaft of light into the cell, revealing Nestad curled up on the floor, one arm under his dark head and his eyes closed. The blanket Aewen had brought down the night before was draped over his slim form.

Aewen glanced at the guard and smiled slightly. "Thank you," she said softly, and then went in. When the door was closed behind her, she went to the elf's side. She sat down next to him and just watched him. She didn't want to wake him if he needed his rest.

A few minutes passed, the elf breathing shallowly in his healing sleep. Then, as a new presence registered slowly on his senses, he shifted and opened one eye. "Hello," he murmured, seeing Aewen in his dim light. "How was work?"

She raised one corner of her mouth in a half smile. "Slow," she said. "I managed to get a bit of rest. But still, I'm exhausted. I've been worried about you all day."

"I've been asleep most of the day," Nestad replied, sitting up and bracing himself with one hand. "I only woke up when they brought something to eat a few hours ago." He stretched his arms lazily, the blanket falling down to pool in his lap. The cuts visible had shrunk and were healing nicely.

"You look like you're doing better," Aewen noticed. "Are you in as much pain?"

"Not near as much pain," Nestad replied, refraining from mentioning that anything was an improvement over the ripping, searing pain he'd felt the night before and even that morning. He still hurt, but it was better.

"I'm so glad," Aewen said. "There was a young girl who asked about you earlier. She said that you helped her a couple years ago. I didn't catch her name. She had a scar on her neck. Anyway, she wanted me to give you her regards."

"You know, she's never given me her right name either," Nestad remarked. "I've always called her Nornbess, or hard woman." He smiled. "So she still remembers the old healer who saved her neck. I'm surprised."

"Why are you surprised?" Aewen asked. "One does not usually forget the person who saved their life."

"It surprises me because she is the most cynical young person I've ever met," Nestad responded. "And perhaps a little lacking in such graces as tact." He smiled. "Prickly little thing."

Aewen nodded. "I noticed…" she said. "She made me feel…I don't know." She shrugged. "I shouldn't let it get to me."

"She's had to be that way," Nestad remarked. "She was born shortly after her mother arrived here. Nineteen years is a long time to be a slave, especially when you're a child. But she gets to me as well sometimes."

Aewen shuddered and hugged her arms around herself, suppressing the sudden urge to sob. "Nestad…we need to find a way out of here and act on it…"

"Yes," Nestad agreed quietly. "If you think you can manage it, find a few slaves you think you can trust and tell them that we have a plan to get out. They can start displaying similar symptoms. That will open the door, when I get back, to the rumor of a mass plague."

Aewen smiled. "I will," she said. "I know of a few people I can tell already."

"Good." Nestad stretched. "Once about…oh, ten people start showing the same symptoms, I can get word out that there's fear of an epidemic. The guards will stay far away from the tent and stay in quarantine."

"That will be very nice," Aewen said. "I hate having those guards around. Though…the one that watches this door is actually kind of nice."

Nestad arched an eyebrow and half-smiled. "Yes, he is. One of the rare ones around here." It'd been the same guard who had come to get him when the man with the wood buried in him had been brought in.

"Do you know his name?" Aewen asked.

"No. After the first time he helped me, I asked to never know it. That way I can't lie when they ask who helped me with something." The elf smiled slightly.

"Oh…I see. Well, then what do you call him? You could always give him a new name. That way they would never know who you're talking about."

"If I ever had to give him a name, it'd be Tirith, as he is a guard." Nestad shrugged. "I tend to be uncreative with names. I call people what I see them as."

"I see him as a watcher…or a helper…" Aewen said softly. "He's helped me three times already, and I would have been in great trouble without him. What are these words in your tongue?"

"Watcher is tirn, helper is thaeden." Nestad's voice had settled into a soothing murmur as he spoke the words in his language. He almost never showed it, but he missed being in the lands where the beautiful language was spoken all the time and his ears were not assaulted with the harsh words of the Easterling tongue.

Aewen smiled. "I like those," she said. "I think I shall use one to call him by. He deserves some recognition."

"He does indeed," Nestad agreed. Lowering his voice a bit, he asked, "Should we take him with us when we leave? Or send him with a group of the slaves so they have some form of protection?"

Aewen hesitated. "I don't know…" she said. "He might be helpful in finding other guards who are like him. More than one on our side would be an advantage."

Nestad nodded thoughtfully. "Well…I've been here five years, and, while I have seen a couple like him, they usually die quickly, as they are kind-hearted. He's managed by ducking low and only helping when none can see."

"But perhaps he knows of others that you have never met," Aewen said. "Anyway, it's worth a try. And maybe he could talk to some that have kind hearts, but out of fear, have never shown them to the slaves before."

"Anything's worth a try at least once," Nestad said. "But of course, there is always the risk that someone will betray us. If that happens…" he hesitated. "Well, I pray it will not."

"There is always that risk," Aewen said. "Even among the slaves. I guess we have to decide if it's worth the risk or not."

"I think it's worth it," Nestad said. He chuckled softly as she tried to hide a yawn. "Sleep," he ordered, bunching up the blanket he'd used earlier. "I've had tons of sleep and you've been working all day."

Aewen smiled. "But you've needed it. And still do," she said. "But yes, I am quite tired."

"Yes, I did and do, but now it's your turn." He grinned. "And my turn to put you to sleep," he added.

Aewen looked at him for a moment. "Thank you," she whispered. "I'm so tired right now that I probably don't even need your help." She lied down on the floor, feeling better with the blanket around her.

Nestad knelt beside and behind her, resting a hand lightly on her shoulder. In spite of her words, he let a touch of his power run through her as he murmured, "Sleep, melethril."

Aewen felt the familiar tingle flow from his fingers, and it filled all her body, relaxing her almost instantly. Soon she was asleep and dead to the world, no expression on her face other than one of exhaustion.

Nestad remained still for a moment before rising and knocking on the door of his cell. This time of night, the kindly guard Aewen was in the process of naming was the only one on guard, thank the Valar.

"A request?" the guard's voice answered.

"Can we talk for a moment?" the healer replied, glancing at the sleeping maid on the floor.

There was the sound of a key in the lock and the door opened slightly. The guard had learned to trust the elf over the years, and so he knew that he wouldn't try anything sneaky. "Talk?" he said softly, glancing around Nestad to catch a glimpse of Aewen.

"She's asleep," Nestad murmured, moving slightly so the guard could see Aewen. "Yes, talk." He rubbed his palms together a bit nervously. He respected, even liked this guard…but he'd never put his life in his hands. On the other hand, this guard did owe him a bit for all the times Nestad had covered for him.

"About what?" the guard asked, eyeing the elf, who seemed to be acting a little strange.

Nestad met the guard's eyes steadily for a moment. "I am trusting you because I have never known you to show needless cruelty in all of the time I have been here," he said at last. "Granted, it has not been very long, but…" he took a breath. "I am going to try to escape." This was the crucial part. How the guard reacted to that statement would determine everything.

The guard's eyebrows went up at that. "Escape?" he whispered, glancing up the stairs, as if afraid they might be overheard. "After all this time? Why now?"

Nestad breathed again. That was a promising beginning. "Because the needless violence and pain has gone far enough and too far. I know you've seen it." His voice was very quiet.

"And…how would you escaping solve anything? You would be gone, and the needless violence and pain would continue, only without a healer to ease it."

Nestad nodded. "True. I plan to take as many slaves with me as possible." He didn't mention Aewen's part in this yet; if there was to be betrayal, he wanted the consequences to fall on him alone.

The guard just stared at him for a moment. "Why are you telling me this?" he asked finally. "You're risking a lot, you know that."

"I'm risking everything," the elf said flatly. "My life, for starters. And I am telling you this because I think you may be able to help me, if you're willing. If you are not willing, then so be it. The decision is yours."

"I would be cutting off my own head if I helped you, elf," the guard said, no hint of malice in his tone. He was simply stating a fact.

"Not if you came with us." Nestad was still calm-voiced, but his heart was racing. "Those traveling would need protection in any case, and your heart is too good to be stuck here."

"This is my home…" the man said softly, glancing down at the floor. "Rhûn is where I was born. Where else could I go?"

Nestad was silent a moment. "I don't know," he admitted. "But there are other places than Rhûn."

"Other places for one like me?" the man asked. "Where can you go in the world and blend in, elf? Don't you fit best where you were born? As do I. I do not look like a man from Gondor, nor any of the lands West of here. I am an Easterling, as they call us. And so I shall always be in their eyes."

Nestad half-smiled ruefully. "As an elf among men, I understand perfectly." He was quiet a moment. "But the question still remains: will you aid my efforts or thwart them?"

The man looked down at the floor for a moment in silence. "I won't thwart you," he said softly. "If I see an opportunity to help you somehow…I may…"

The healer reached out and gently touched the soldier's shoulder. "I thank you," he said, his voice equally soft. He bowed slightly as he pulled back from the door. "I'll leave you alone now."

The guard smiled slightly. "Thank you for the company," he said simply.

"It is the least I can do," Nestad replied before pushing the door closed. He stood still a moment in his light, his eyes closed and his forehead resting against the door. That had been the hardest part, he decided. Actually doing the rescues and escapes…easy. But asking an Easterling soldier to betray his people to help slaves? Well, it was over. Sagging with relief, the elf walked silently to Aewen's side and curled up on the floor facing her. Enough time to think tomorrow.